Acts 16:26 - Exposition

Prison-house for prison, A.V., as Acts 5:21 , Acts 5:23 . All the doors were opened . This would be the natural effect of the earthquake. Bands ( δεσμά ). St. Luke always follows the Attic usage of δεσμόν , in the neuter (romp. Acts 20:23 ; Luke 8:29 ). St. Paul follows the Hellenistic usage of δεσμός , in the masculine ( Philippians 1:13 ; see Jeremiah 2:20 ; Jeremiah 5:5 ; Habakkuk 3:13 ). In many instances (genitive and dative) it is, of course, impossible to determine whether the word is masculine or neuter.